Nicaragua RPCV Carley Lovorn bridges a gap between two worlds as director of El Centro, Tupelo's only Hispanic resource center

Lovorn says, she's inspired by the community and its growing Hispanic population. Lovorn estimates about 2,000 Spanish speakers living in Lee County and says that figure likely will rise. "Just like anywhere else, they're coming here for the jobs," she says. "Nationally, there is a lot of fear about the Hispanic population, but we need to focus on the local community. And here, there are a lot of good, hard-working, churchgoing people who have their work cards. For the most part, they are not here illegally." Lovorn says the people she serves want to integrate; El Centro helps them do that. But it also wants to reach the English-speaking population, and plans one day to offer Spanish classes. "We are definitely looking to expand," says Lovorn, who relies on grants, donations and sponsorships to stay in business. "There is such a growing need here."

Caption: Carly Lovorn serves as director of El Centro, which is located in the Link Centre in Tupelo. The organization provides a variety of resources for Spanish-speaking residents in the area. Photo: Deste Lee

BY EMILY LE COZ Daily Journal

TUPELO - Carley Lovorn bridges a gap between two worlds as director of El Centro, the city's only Hispanic resource center.

The nonprofit agency aims to integrate Spanish-speaking residents into the American culture by providing a host of services to immigrants and lifelong residents alike.

In its first year, it has served an estimated 400 clients with adult English classes, workshops, and an after-school program at its office inside the Link Centre. It also helps non-English speakers access social services in the community and does translation for city and county departments.

Lovorn, a 31-year-old Tupelo native, has been instrumental in achieving the program's success.

"She's just done a great job," says Doyce Deas, one of El Centro's board members. "There is such a huge need with the increase in the Hispanic population, and in some cases, people are so unsympathetic to their plight. They need someone they can trust who can help them. Carley has done an outstanding job."

El Centro actually started with Lovorn's arrival. Before that, the Link Centre ran an after-school program for young Spanish speakers. Organizers wanted to offer more but had no one to head an expanded program.

Then, they heard about Lovorn. At the time, she was living with her husband, Rob Winkler, in Guatemala and working with a human rights group there. A positive pregnancy test prompted the couple to move back to America. In late July, they landed in Tupelo.

Lovorn, who also had spent two years in Nicaragua as a Peace Corps volunteer, started at El Centro on Aug. 1. Now, a year later, the new mother says she and her husband have settled into a life here - their son Rowan, 1, attends The Kid Company daycare center, and Winkler teaches math at Tupelo High School.

But more than being settled, Lovorn says, she's inspired by the community and its growing Hispanic population. Lovorn estimates about 2,000 Spanish speakers living in Lee County and says that figure likely will rise.

"Just like anywhere else, they're coming here for the jobs," she says. "Nationally, there is a lot of fear about the Hispanic population, but we need to focus on the local community. And here, there are a lot of good, hard-working, churchgoing people who have their work cards. For the most part, they are not here illegally."

Lovorn says the people she serves want to integrate; El Centro helps them do that. But it also wants to reach the English-speaking population, and plans one day to offer Spanish classes.

"We are definitely looking to expand," says Lovorn, who relies on grants, donations and sponsorships to stay in business. "There is such a growing need here."

Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance ActSenator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

Paul Theroux: Peace Corps WriterPaul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

Ambassador revokes clearance for PC DirectorA post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania.

Suspect confesses in murder of PCVSearch parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences .

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Read the stories and leave your comments.

Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Djournal.com

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Nicaragua; Hispanic Issues; Immigration

PCOL3892501

Add a Message

This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.